Means for predetermining dental replacement



Dec. 27, 1927. 1,654,387

Y z WITNESSES v INVENTOR ,.fi'/'/z[//r/Ifezzz Z wyta BY ATTORNEYS Dec.27', 1927. 1,654,387

B. F. STENZ MEANS FOR PREDETERMINING DENTAL REPLACEMENT Filed Dec. 7,1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 s i i i mam.

lNVENTOR ATTORN EYS Patented Dec. 27,. 1927.

UNITED STATES I 1,654,387 PATENTKOFFICE.

BERNfABD IF. STENZyOF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO SIMPLEX. SAMPLI NGASSOCIA- TION, LNG, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MEANS FOR PREDETERMINING DENTAL REPLACEMENT.

Application med December 7, '1926. Serial No. 153,200

This invention relates to devices for aiding in predetermining dentalreplacement, and its primary object is to enable both the dentist andthe patient to choose the best suitable artificial dental constructionas to shape, size and color of teeth, for the patient whose naturalteeth are to be replaced by artificial ones.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby thedentist or dental surgeon may readil and correctly display to theatient. facsimiles or duplicates of the arti cial tooth or teeth withwhich the patient is to be provided.

A further object of the invention is to provide, first, a chart showingin simulation of natural color and form, various types-and sizes ofteeth, and in conjunction therewith and correspondence thereto, separateand individual, facsimiles or copies which maybe placed in the mouth ofthe patient to give the atter an opportunity to judge the appearance andlocation of the artificial teeth to be subsequently provided inconformance with the said facsimiles or duplicates.

It is also an object of the invention to rovide an embossed andnaturally colored acsimile or copy of human teeth which may be insertedunder the lips and across the s of the subject, whereby is made possiblethe simulation of the appearance of natural teeth for various purposesin dental surgery, replacement or the like, and for other purposes; suchother purposes, for exthey are not necessari y so produced; they may belithographed or otherwise reproduced or formed, so as to simulate livingteeth as to shape, size and color. An essential feature of the inventionis that .these facsimiles or copies when placed inthe mouth actually dogive to the observer the appearance of normal, natural teeth. a

Referring moreparticularly to the drawin? herein,

igure 1 shows, for example, a chart of a single set of teeth produced byembossing,

line 33 of Figure 2, the same being shown Accordingly, as has beenstated, it is one of ample, are used on the stage and the takseries ofnine sets of teeth produced by em-- lithographing orotherwise, andcorrespond- 1ng 1n appearance to the set of teeth number 1 shown on thechart Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on the in a'dilferent position indotted outline.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 of a facsimile of an upper set ofteeth.

Figure 5 is a view of a facsimile similar to F gure 4 showing a lowerset of teeth.

Figure 6 shows in plan a facsimile of a set of five upper teeth.

Figure 7 is a perspectiveview showing an individual about to insert oneof the facsimiles inthe mouth; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the individual with the facsimilein position and simulating, for the purpose of observation, a naturalset of teeth.

It 'is a matter of common knowledge that in providing artificial teethto those who need them, little thought, hitherto, has been given to theuse of any mechanical aid in the suitable choice of such artificialteeth, as to shape, size and color, largely because of the necessarydifficulty in predetermining these factors. The shape, size and color ofthe artificial teeth should necessarily conform to the physiognomy ofthe user, in order that the eventual appearance may be of the best.

the purposes of this invention to enable not only the dentist or dentalsurgeon, but priniarily the prospective user'to predetermine theappearance which will result from the installation of the artificialdentistry. Itis not sufficient to examine charts or the like showingpictorial reproductions, even in color, of teeth, to make a properjudgment of the prospective appearance of the artificial 95 teeth to beconstructed. By means of the present invention, this can beaccomplishedexpeditiously and with extreme simplicity. The facsimiles of theartificial teeth to be used in connection with this invention may we befashioned from any suitable materialadapted for the purpose, forexample, from paper, celluloid, mixtures of paper and fabric, and thelike. The sets of teeth produced upon the display chart may be of ansuit- 10: able number, but preferably shoul comprise enough to give afairly wide scope of appearance as to size, shape and color. They may ormay not be embossed upon this display chart, but in my preferred form ofthe invention they are both embossed and naturally colored. Theindividual fascimiles should be sufiicient in number to give the ofteeth, upper and lower.

dentist an ample supply, for it is of course understood that after apatient has used one for observation purposes, this facsimile, forsanitar reasons, may be thrown away or destroye and it is possible thatan individual patient may have to use quite 'a number of the facsimilesuntil a satisfactory set has been determined upon.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, while I have showninFigure 1 a portion only of a display chart, it will be understood thatthe same will consist of a suitable back or body 10 upon which thepictorial re 'resentations of the sets of teeth are embosse lithographedor otherwise produced, preferably in natural size. For convenience,these sets may be arranged across the surface of the body 10 in sets ofthree, such, for example, as the sets 11 to 19, inclusive. To assist in'easier scrutiny of these sets of teeth, I prefer to have them separatedby demarcations of white or other colored background, though it will beunderstood that these details do not form an essential part of theinvention. Primarily the chart is for the purpose of displaying to thedentist and the patient a substantial number of sets of teeth to giveboth a proper idea as to shape, size and color to be determined upon forthe artificial teeth with which the atient is to be provided.Furthermore, the acsimiles will enable the dentist to order the desiredartificial teeth or set of such teeth from the manufacturer by mail; Forsuch mail order business the manufacturer preferably should have acorresponding chart or, if not, he can choose from the artificialateethmanufactured by him those corresponding in shape, size, color and thelike to those shown on the facsimile forwarded to him by the dentist.

Figure 2 shows a facsimile of a complete set This facsimile consists ofa back 20 of paper or other suitable material preferably of moistureroofcharacter or having a moisture-proofs surfacing. These facsimiles mayalso be medicated to render them sterile, sanitary and free from germs.They may also be properly scented to minimize any unpleasant odor. Themedication, soenting or deodorant may -be applied thereto in anysuitable manner and may be even incorporated in the printing orlithographic inks or varnishes used in mal size and sha e are producedupon this facsimile prefera l by embossing and lithogra hing. When't efacsimile 20 is inserted in t e patients mouth, it is rounded as shownsimile may be of an suitable nature, though their production. Thus, whenthe facsimile is introduced into the mouth of the patient,

it will notonly be sanitary but will be pleasant to the sense of smell.The corners-21 of the facsimile too, are preferably rounded tofacilitate insertion in the mouth and to minimize an possible injury ofor incon venience to t 0 patient. The teeth 22 of norit re-ferably shoulconform to the normal .00 or of the human ms. In the form of facsimileshown in 1gures2 and 3 as will be clearl seen in Figure 3; the teeth 20are embosse to enhance the natural appearance,

the embossing simulating in depth the size of the particular teeth inquestion.

In Figure 4 is shown a facsimile of a single set of upper teeth havin abody or back 23 with the teeth 24 suita lycolored, embossed thereon. Itwill be noted that one edge of this facsimile corresponds to the free orserrated edge of the teeth.

Figure 5 shows a similar facsimile for a set of lower teeth, having 'abody or back 25 .and teeth 26 embossed thereon.

In Figure 6. is shown a facsimile of a set of five teeth comprising abody or back 27 with the teeth 28 embossed thereon, or su1t, ablycolored, to render the appearance as natural as possible. a

In the facsimile ofFigure 2 there is a central notch 29 at the upperedge to facilitate the proper location of the facsimile in the mouth.Likewise, the devices of Figures 4 and 6 are provided with locating edgenotches 30 and 31 for the obvious purpose already described. It will ofcourse beu-nderstood that facsimiles of any numbers or particularlydesired groups of teeth maybe used for ecific cases. l

The mo e of use and application of the facsimiles of my invention areclearly shown in Figures 7 and 8. The facsimile, which may beslig'htlyrurved for introduction into the mouth, is placed betweenthegums and lips, and with the latter opened'the effect is as indicated inFigure 8. There is no discomfort incident to the use of these devices,and a number may be successively .used until the desired effect isarrived at! For the purposes of the speaking stage, orifices may be leftin the facsimiles or separate upper and lower. sets used. For use inthe. taking of moving pictures, this is not necessarily the case.

Having described my invention I claim: 1. A device of the classdescribed, comprising a thin, flexible member adapted to be inserted inthe mouth between the lips and gums and having embossed thereon .toothoutlines for the purpose set forth.

2. A device of the class described, consisting' of a thin, flexiblememberadapted to be inserted in the month, between the lips and gums andprovided with embossed and colored tooth representations.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a thin bendable striphaving formed thereon embossed facsimiles of a plurality of human teethfor the purpose set forth.

4. A device of the class described, comprising a thin bendable striphaving formed thereon embossed and colored facsimiles of a plurality ofhuman teeth for the purpose set forth, and simulating natural teeth.

5. A device of theclass described, comprising a thin flexible striphaving embossea thereon a set of human teeth, said strip being shaped tofit in the mouth of the user 15 between the lips and gums for thepurpose set forth.

6. A device of the class described, comprising a thin flexible striphaving embossed thereon a set of human teeth, said strip being shaped tofit in the mouth of the user between the lips and gums for the purposeset forth, said teeth embossed upon said strip being of normal humanproportion and shape and being suitably tinted or colored.

BERNARD F. STENZ.

